In this episode of Exceptional Talk on Disabilities, host Bruce Drake, CEO of ARISE and Exceptional Family Resources, is joined by Mary Schwanke, Senior Community Inclusion Supervisor, for an in-depth conversation about the ARISE & Ski program.
Mary shares how ARISE & Ski has been creating access to adaptive skiing and snowboarding since 1996—empowering individuals with disabilities, ages five and up, to experience winter sports in a supportive, instructional environment. The conversation explores how adaptive equipment, skilled instructors, and dedicated volunteers work together to make independence on the slopes possible, from first-time skiers to seasoned participants who eventually become volunteers themselves.
Listeners will learn about the program’s partnership with Ski CNY at Labrador Mountain, the vital role volunteers play, and why peer support and lived experience—both professional and personal—are central to ARISE-EFR’s mission. Mary also offers powerful insight into what makes ARISE & Ski special, including her favorite moment each season: seeing empty wheelchairs at the bottom of the hill.
This episode highlights how adaptive recreation isn’t just about sports—it’s about confidence, independence, community, and full-circle moments that last a lifetime.
Recorded and produced at WCNY Public Broadcasting studios.
